PAM. 

N.  AMES. 

Roman  Catholics  and  Indian  Education. 


An  Address  by  Hon.  T.  J.  Morgan,  Ex-Commissloner  of  Indian 
Affairs,  delivered  In  Music  Hall,  Boston,  Mass., 

Sunday,  April  16,  1893. 

(revised.) 


Gen.  Thomas  J.  Morgan,  by  special  request,  spoke  in  Music  Hall 
on  Sunday,  April  i6,  to  an  audience  of  more  than  three  thou- 
sand people,  who  received  him  with  a warmth  and  enthusiasm  that 
left  no  room  for  doubt  as  to  the  esteem  and  honor  in  which  he  is 
held  by  the  Christian  patriots  of  Boston  and  vicinity.  Rev.  E.  S. 
Wheeler  presided  and  conducted  the  religious  exercises,  after  which 
Rev.  Dr.  Miner,  in  a few  well-chosen  sentences,  introduced  the  speak- 
er, the  audience  rising  en  masse  and  receiving  him  with  tumultuous 
applause  that  lasted  some  minutes.  After  quiet  was  restored,  Gen. 
Morgan  spoke  for  more  than  an  hour,  holding  the  close  attention  of 
his  great  audience  till  the  end,  and  receiving  every  mark  of  interest, 
sympathy,  and  frequently  very  hearty  applause.  There  has  been 
such  a call  for  the  address  in  a permanent  form,  that  it  is  here  repro- 
duced as  revised  by  the  speaker. 

I ; e said  : — 

Patriotism  is  evidently  still  a dominant  force  in  our  lives.  I am 
here  to  speak  to  you  as  a patriot,  not  to  make  a political  speech  ; and 
whatever  reference  I shall  make  to  parties  will  therefore  be  incidental, 
and  only  so  far  as  is  absolutely  necessary  in  connection  with  the  un- 
folding of  the  theme  which  I shall  set  before  you.  It  makes  no  dif- 
ference so  far  as  this  discussion  is  concerned,  whether  free  trade  or 
protection  is  the  better  policy  for  us  as  a people.  I do  not  care  to 
make  any  comparison  between  the  leaders  of  the  two  great  parties, 
or  between  the  parties  themselves,  or  between  their  platforms  and 
policies.  I am  only  concerned  with  politics  so  far  as  it  is  necessary 
to  show  the  plottings  of  the  Roman  Catholics  to  ally  themselves  with 
one  political  party,  in  order  to  secure  the  defeat  of  another,  so  that 
the  church  might  profit  by  the  change  of  administration.  It  was  an 
effort  to  use  the  machinery  of  popular  elections  to  compass  secta- 
rian ends. 

I regret  that  my  address  on  a Sunday  should  even  seem  to  take  on 
a political  hue,  but  it  does  so  only  because  I am  tracing  the  action  of 
a church  which  descended  from  its  legitimate  plane  to  enter  the  arena 


2 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS 


of  partisan  politics,  and  in  the  name  of  religion  sought  to  secure  an 
ecclesiastical  advantage  that  threatens  the  very  existence  of  religious 
libel  ty. 

No  Attack  Upon  Catholicism. 

I am  not  here  to  denounce  Roman  Catholicism  as  a system  of  re- 
ligious belief.  I have  my  own  theological  views,  but  this  is  not  the 
place  to  express  them.  The  Roman  Catholics  have  their  creed,  and 
as  religionists  they  are  entitled  to  fair  treatment.  With  their  theol- 
ogy I have  now  nothing  to  do.  I cordially  recognize  the  good  there 
is  in  the  Catholic  church,  and  I accord  to  Roman  Catholics,  as  fellow- 
citizens,  all  the  civil  rights  and  privileges  claimed  by  ourselves.  I am 
not  here  to  criticise  or  challenge  their  devotion  to  their  church,  their 
missionary  zeal,  or  the  use  of  any  legitimate  means  to  extend  their 
influence  or  win  converts.  The  great  struggle  between  Protestantism 
and  Roman  Catholicism  that  now  divides  the  world  is  a contest  of 
ideas,  of  systems,  and  must  be  determined  by  an  appeal  to  history,  to 
reason,  and  to  the  Bible.  What  the  final  outcome  of  that  great 
struggle  is  to  be  I have  no  doubt : truth  will  triumph,  and  if  Protest- 
antism cannot  stand  the  supreme  test,  it  will  fail.  But  it  will  not  fail. 

The  Plea  of  Patriotism. 

I am  here  as  a patriot  to  plead  for  America,  for  the  Republic,  for 
our  most  cherished  and  characteristic  institutions,  free  thought,  free 
speech,  a free  press,  free  schools,  free  ballots,  and  for  freedom  of  con- 
science. 

A Dangerous  Attitude. 

The  Roman  Catholics  have  assumed  an  attitude  on  the  Indian 
School  question  that  is  un-American,  unpatriotic,  and  a menace  to 
our  liberties.  I challenge  the  course  they  have  pursued,  as  that  of  a 
corrupt  ecclesiastico-political  machine  masquerading  as  a church,  a 
course  that  has  been  without  precedent,  and  is  without  justification. 
Its  spirit  has  been  that  of  the  Inquisition,  its  methods  those  of  the 
disreputable  politician,  and  its  agencies,  intrigue,  secrecy,  conspiracy, 
falsehood  and  slander.  These  are  very  grave  charges,  but  they  are 
justified  by  the  facts,  and  some  of  the  most  eminent,  godly  and  in- 
telligent men  among  them  have  not  hesitated  to  condemn  the  acts 
that  I shall  criticise  and  denounce. 

The  Question  Stated. 

There  are  in  the  United  States  about  250,000  Indians.  We  found 
them  when  we  landed  on  these  shores ; they  have  confronted  us  all 
the  way  that  we  have  advanced  in  extending  our  civilization  from  the 


AND  INDIAN  EDUCATION. 


3 


Atlantic  to  the  Pacific;  and  the  question  of  theireducation,  Chrisiian- 
Lzation,  and  assimilation  with  us  as  a people,  has  awakened  a lively 
interest  in  all  religious  bodies,  and  in  the  breasts  of  all  patriots. 
Roger  Williams,  John  Eliot,  Jonathan  Edwards,  and  others,  preached 
to  them  in  the  early  days ; other  apostles  and  missionaries  have 
followed  them  into  the  wilderness  and  to  the  reservations,  and  mis- 
sionary and  educational  work  has  been  attempted  in  sporadic  wa>s 
and  unsystematic  methods,  more  or  less  during  all  the  passing  years. 
The  Roman  -Catholics  have  done  their  part  of  this  work,  and  in  so 
far  as  it  has  been  zealous,  self-sacrificing  and  wise,  we  recognize  their 
service,  and  give  them  their  meed  of  praise. 

In  1877  the  government  of  the  United  States  entered  upon  the 
work  of  providing  for  the  education  of  the  Indians  by  the  appropria- 
tion of  $20,000  out  of  the  public  treasury.  This  appropriation  was 
increased  from  year  to  year,  until  18S6,  when  it  was  $600,000,  and 
when  I entered  upon  the  duties  of  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs 
it  had  reached  the  sum  of  $1,300,000.  Four  years  later,  when  I left 
the  office,  it  had  been  increased  to  a little  more  than  $2,300,000. 

The  Bureau  of  Catholic  India.n  Missio.ns. 

When  the  Catholics  saw  that  government  was  appropriating  public 
money  for  this  purpose,  they  reached  out  their  hands  to  lay  hold  of 
and  control  it.  There  was  established  in  the  City  of  Washington 
what  was  known  as  the  Bureau  of  Catholic  Indian  Missions,  an 
organization  designed  to  influence  legislation,  to  secure  appointments 
to  the  Indian  service  and  appropriations  for  their  schools,  and  to 
establish  and  maintain  among  the  Indians,  educational  institutions 
to  be  supported  chiefly  out  of  the  public  treasury.  It  was  a carefully 
thought-out,  thoroughly  organized  scheme  for  the  accomplishment 
of  its  purpose,  and  the  Bureau  was  well  equipped  with  officers  and 
clerks.  It  had  a president,  vice-president,  director,  and  secretary. 
It  was  active,  bold,  and  aggressive.  It  had  money,  zeal,  and  influ- 
ence. It  was  from  the  beginning  an  impertinence  and  a menace. 

The  Protestants  had  no  such  central  organization.  It  sought  to 
secure  the  absolute  control  of  all  Roman  Catholic  Indian  schools, 
and  to  handle  all  the  vast  sums  of  money  to  be  obtained  for  them 
from  the  government.  While  receiving  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
dollars  from  the  public  treasury,  it  rendered  no  itemized  account  of 
expenditures,  refused  to  have  its  schools  conform  to  the  government 
standard  of  classification,  grading,  course  of  study  and  text-bocks, 
and  bitterly  resented  government  inspection.  It  bent  all  its  tireless 
energies  to  the  one  purpose  of  promoting  Catholicism  among  the 
Indians  — at  public  expense.  Whether  the  cost  of  maintaining  the 


4 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS 


Bureau  was  paid  out  of  public  money  I cannot  say.*  It  rendered  no 
public  account  of  the  expenditure  of  the  millions  received  from  the 
public  treasury.  The  Roman  Catholics  attempted  to  secure  as  large 
a number  as  possible  of  Indian  agents  and  subordinate  officers  and 
employees  in  the  Indian  service.  They  secured,  in  the  last  adminis- 
tration, the  appointment  of  the  Superintendent  of  Indian  Schools 
and  the  clerk  who  had  the  management  of  all  the  details  of  educa- 
tion in  the  office  of  the  Commissioner,  and  who  was  the  ready  servant 
of  this  Catholic  Bureau.  His  principal  assistant,  and  also  one  of 
his  most  valuable  clerks,  were  Roman  Catholics,  and  they  were 
apparently  entirely  subservient  to  his  wishes.  The  officers  of  the 
Catholic  Bureau  were  said  to  be  in  almost  daily  consultation  with 
him,  and  probably  had  more  influence  with  him  than  the  officers  of 
the  Indian  Bureau  itself.  He  was  a zealot,  and  seems  to  have  used 
his  position  to  promote  Roman  Catholicism. 

Very  serious  complaints  have  been  made  of  the  discourteous 
treatment  given  by  the  officials  of  the  Indian  Bureau  during  this  time 
to  eminent  Protestant  clergymen  who  had  business  there  relative  to 
the  schools  carried  on  by  their  people  under  contract  with  the 
government. 

The  government  Indian  schools,  meantime,  were  grossly  neglected, 
buildings  went  to  decay,  suitable  equipments  were  not  supplied, 
incompetent,  and  even  immoral  teachers  and  employees,  were 
appointed.  There  was  no  proper  system  or  supervision  of  the 
work.  The  Indian  office  seemed  largely  indifferent  to  their  welfare, 
and  the  Roman  Catholics  boasted  of  the  superiority  of  their 
schools. 


A Flattered  and  Flattering  Sen.ator. 

In  1882  a Senator  visited  a Roman  Catholic  Indian  School,  and 
on  his  return  to  the  Senate  made  a speech  in  praise  of  the  Jesuits, 
and  declared  that  they  were  doing  more  than  all  others  for  Indian 
civilization.  Rome  is  an  adept  in  fawning  and  flattery,  and  knows 
when  to  use  them.  The  Bureau  of  Catholic  Indian  Missions  passed 
resolutions  praising  the  Senator  for  his  “ bold,  manly,  eloquent  utter- 
ances,” a copy  of  which  was  sent  to  him  and  to  all  archbishops  and  bish- 
ops. They  reprinted  and  widely  circulated  his  speech,  and  from  that 
time  on  he  has  been  their  defender  and  champion,  and  his  little  speech 
is  always  on  call.  Ignoring  the  radical  revolutions  and  great  advance 
in  government  schools,  while  the  Catholic  schools  practically  stood 
still,  he  still  insists  on  the  superiority  of  the  Catholic  schools,  basing 
his  testimony  upon  his  “ experience  and  personal  knowledge,  ’ which 
consisted  almost  entirely  of  one  visit  to  a Catholic  school  a dozen 

*See  opinion  of  Judge  Perkins  cited  in  article  from  Evening  Post,  printed  in  ap- 
pendix. 


AND  INDIAN  EDUCATION.  S 

years  ago,  and  no  knowledge  whatever  of  recent  work  done  in 
government  schools. 


Roman  Catholics  in  the  Indian  Service. 

The  Roman  Catholics  secured  the  appointment  in  the  Indian 
schools  of  the  government  of  as  large  a number  as  possible  of 
Catholics,*  simply  because  they  were  Catholics.  They  introduced 
into  these  schools  the  Roman  Catholic  Catechism,  and  made  that 
the  chief  basis  of  instruction,  rendering  the  schools  as  completely 
parochial  mission  schools  as  though  they  had  been  controlled  and 
paid  for  absolutely  out  of  mission  funds  contributed  for  the  propa- 
gation of  Catholicism.  On  one  of  the  government  schools  a cross 
was  erected,  and  the  Indian  pupils  were  forced  to  attend  mass  (see 
report  on  file  in  Indian  office).  Several  government  schools  estab- 
lished under  such  a system  are  still  in  operation.  They  are  support- 
ed out  of  the  public  treasury  from  money  belonging  alike  to  all  our 
people,  but  they  are  Roman  Catholic  schools,  taught  by  Roman 
Catholic  teachers  who  daily  drill  into  the  minds  of  the  little  Indians 
the  assertion  of  the  catechism  that  the  only  true  church  is  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  Church. 


Roman  Catholic  Contract  Schools. 

The  Roman  Catholics  also  established  schools  of  their  own  and 
secured  appropriations  from  the  public  treasury  for  their  mainte- 
nance, in  1886  $118,000,  the  next  year  $194,000,  then  $221,000,  and 
when  I took  charge  of  the  Indian  office  the  appropriation  had  in- 
creased to  $347,000.  They  applied  to  me  for  a renewal  of  their  con- 
tracts for  the  year  1890.  They  asked  for  more  than  $400,000,  and 
indicated  that  when  their  plans  were  completed  they  should  require 
still  larger  sums.  In  eight  years,  from  1886  to  1893,  inclusive,  they 
secured  $2,366,416  out  of  the  public  treasury  for  the  support  of  these 
institutions,  which  were  distinctively  church  schools,  mission  schools, 
narrow  sectarian  schools.  More  than  two  and  a quarter  million  dol- 
lars out  of  the  public  treasury  to  teach  the  Indian  that  the  only  true 
church  is  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  ! They  doubtless  are  honest 
in  teaching  this,  and  they  have  a right  to  teach  it,  but  not  at  public 
expense.  One  of  these  schools,  at  Devil’s  Lake,  N.  D.,  was  taught 
by  Grey  Nuns,  imported  from  Montreal,  in  a building  costing  over 
$40,000,  that  was  built  by  the  government  out  of  public  money. 
The  Catholic  church  adjoining  the  school  was  said  to  be  heated 


6 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS 


by  coal  purchased  by  public  money  (see  correspondence  on  file  in 
Indian  office). 

Protestant  Contract  Schools. 

In  the  meantime  various  Protestant  denominations  received  public 
money  for  their  schools  ; among  them,  the  Presbyterians,  Methodists, 
Episcopalians,  and  Congregationalists.  My  own  denomination,  the 
Baptists,  refused  to  accept  any.  Out  of  a total  of  $3,767,000  paid 
to  all  contract  schools  in  eight  years,  $2,366,416  went  to  the  Roman 
Catholics.  (See  table,  page  12.) 

A New  Policy  Annou.nceu. 

I took  office  on  the  first  day  of  July,  1889  One  of  the  first  things 
that  presented  itself  was  the  awarding  of  the  contracts  for  the 
Indian  schools  for  the  year  to  come.  I was  waited  upon  by  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  asked  if  I would  renew  the 
contracts.  I said.  Yes,  but  that  I did  not  believe  in  the  principle ; 
that  the  whole  system  of  taking  public  money  for  the  support  of 
sectarian  schools  was  wrong,  and  ought  not  to  be,  but,  inasmuch  as 
the  system  had  grown  up,  and  had  had  the  sanction  of  the  govern- 
ment for  years,  and  these  various  sects  had  built  houses  and 
established  schools,  it  was  not  my  purpose  to  suddenly  rev'olutionize 
the  system,  or  interfere  with  the  vested  rights  of  these  various 
religious  bodies.  I made  no  distinction.  I said  I did  not  purpose 
to  extend  the  system  by  authorizing  the  establishment  of  new  institu- 
tions, whether  by  Roman  Catholics,  Methodists,  Presbyterians,  or 
Episcopalians. 

The  Beginning  of  Warf.are. 

They  took  alarm  at  this  statement,  and  immediately  took  steps  to 
thwart  the  efforts  of  the  office  to  carry  the  new  policy  into  execution. 
A formidable  committee  of  representative  Roman  Catholic  ecclesi- 
astics w'aited  upon  President  Harrison,  and  asked  him  to  withdraw 
my  name.  They  stated  their  reasons,  and  when  they  were  done  he 
said  : “ Gentlemen,  the  reasons  you  state  for  the  withdraw'al  of  the 
name  of  the  Indian  Commissioner,  are  chiefly  the  reasons  that 
prompted  me  to  send  in  his  name.”  They  then  attempted  to  destroy 
my  reputation,  charged  me  with  falsehood,  attempted  to  blacken  my 
military  record,  accused  me  of  bigotry,  and  demanded  my  removal 
trom  the  office,  as  a man  unfit  for  the  performance  of  its  solemn  and 
difficult  responsibilities.*  They  did  not  succeed.  Then  they  attempted 
to  defeat  my  confirmation.  They  brought  to  bear  upon  Congress 
every  conceivable  force  that  could  be  secured,  summoning  to  Wash- 


See  pamphlets  filed  by  J.  A Stephan  with  Senate  Committee. 


AND  INDIAN  EDUCATION. 


7 


ington  their  most  eminent  and  influential  men,  archbishops,  bishops, 
and  priests.  General  Sherman’s  son  was  there.  Letters  were  written 
to  senators.  Two  formidable  pamphlets*\\'ere  printed  by  the  Senate 
as  a private  document,  — I hold  it  in  my  hand,  — full  of  falsehoods, 
and  designed  to  crush  me.  But  it  contains,  also,  my  reply  to  their 
slanders.  They  attempted  to  array  the  Democratic  party  solidly 
against  me,  but  some  Democratic  senators,  after  carefully  investigat- 
ing all  the  charges,  pronounced  them  false  and  frivolous,  and  voted 
for  my-confirmation. 

Pliable  Republican  Senators. 

They  attempted  to  array  against  me  Republican  senators  who 
were  displeased  with  my  civil  service  ideas,  or  who  lived  in  States 
where  the  Roman  Catholic  vote  was  an  important  factor.  They 
succeeded  in  gaining  Senators  Plumb  and  Ingalls,  of  Kansas,  Pierce 
of  North  Dakota,  and  Davis  of  Minnesota.  The  plot  was  carefully 
planned,  and  pushed  with  tireless  zeal.  How  near  it  succeeded  let 
him  say  who  was  its  chief  instigator.  Mr.  Stephan,  the  director  of 
the  Catholic  Bureau,  says  in  his  secret  report,  July  27th,  1892,  page  3 
(I  hold  the  report  in  my  hand),  “ There  never  had  been  a battle  in 
the  Senate  that  appeared  more  promising,  and  never  was  one  lost 
more  signally.”  “ The  late  Senator  Plumb  called  at  our  office  and 
said  he  would  assist  us  in  our  fight  on  Morgan,  and  Senator  Ingalls 
gave  me  the  same  assurance.  Senator  Manderson,  it  is  assumed, 
would  lead  the  old  soldier  fight  against  him.f  Everything  seemed  to 
favor  the  defeat  of  his  confirmation,  when  certain  elements  — I was 
told,  the  President — entered  into  the  contest,  which  changed  the 
whole  situation.  Morgan,  adroitly  raising  the  religious  issue,  said 
there  was  a Romish  conspiracy  to  defeat  him,  and  that  the  Jesuits 
wanted  him  punished  for  his  public  school  system  views ; and, 
through  the  aid  of  the  American  League  and  kindred  societies,  he 
succeeded  in  uniting  in  his  support  a sufficient  number  to  confirm 
him.  He  had  the  whole  power  of  the  administration,  from  the 
President  down,  at  his  back,  and  the  vast  patronage  of  his  own 
office.  Still,  I think,  he  would  have  been  defeated,  if  the  religious 
issue  could  have  been  kept  out  of  the  fight,  but  this  was  impossible.” 

A Bitter  and  Hu.miliating  Defeat. 

I think  no  such  bold,  sectarian  assault  upon  a government  official 
was  ever  made.  Its  audacity  and  wickedness  attracted  the  attention 
of  the  entire  country,  and  aroused  and  combined  the  Protestant  and 
anti-Catholic  sentiment  to  an  extraordinary  degree.  The  Roman 

• Prepared  by  the  Roman  Catholic  Bureau. 

t Senator  Manderson,  a soldier  with  an  enviable  record,  defended  me,  and 
urged  my  confirmation. 


8 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS 


Catholics  felt  that  it  was  a crisis  for  them.  They  left  nothing  undone 
to  succeed. 

All  their  elaborate  efforts,  their  adroit  scheming,  their  secret  plot- 
ting, their  infamous  lying,  failed.  They  were  defeated  ; I was  con- 
firmed. The  Committee  of  One  Hundred  had  an  honorable  part  in 
this  great  struggle.  Having  signally  failed  to  remove  me  from  office 
by  defeating  my  confirmation,  they  then  sought  to  cripple  my  admin- 
istration. They  appealed  to  the  President  to  overrule  me. 

President  Harrison. 

Now  Benjamin  Harrison  is  one  of  the  truest,  grandest  men  that 
ever  adorned  the  presidential  office.  Soldier,  statesman,  jurist,  Chris- 
tian, patriot,  he  gave  to  the  Republic  a clean,  able,  efficient,  just  ad- 
ministration. Liberal  in  his  views,  judicial  in  temperament,  con- 
scientious in  the  performance  of  public  duty,  painstaking  in  his  in- 
vestigations, impartial  in  his  judgments,  he  carefully  considered  the 
charges  made  by  the  Roman  Catholics  against  the  administration  of 
the  Indian  office  and  sustained  me  in  all  the  essential  elements  of  my 
policy. 

Improvement  of  the  Indian  Service.* 

By  his  support,  I was  able  to  improve  the  whole  Indian  service 
and  to  lift  the  government  Indian  schools  up  onto  a high  plane  of 
efficiency.  During  the  four  years  of  my  official  term,  more  than  one 
million  dollars  were  put  into  buildings  and  equipments.  The  num- 
ber of  schools  was  largely  increased.  A uniform  course  of  study 
was  adopted,  and  a series  of  text-books  selected.  A very  careful  sys- 
tem of  competent  supervision  was  put  into  operation.  The  enroll- 
ment of  Indian  pupils  was  increased  from  16,000  to  20,000.  A mil- 
lion dollars  a year  was  added  to  the  annual  appropriation  from  the 
public  treasury  for  Indian  education.  All  superintendents,  teachers, 
matrons  and  physicians  were  brought  under  the  operation  of  the 
civil  service  rules,  thus  practically  taking  the  Indian  school  service 
out  of  politics. 

Reasons  for  Roman  Catholic  Opposition. 

In  the  meantime,  I continued  to  award  contracts  to  the  Roman 
Catholic  schools,  even  largely  increasing  the  allowance  to  them. 
During  the  four  years  preceding  my  administration,  the  total  amount 
awarded  to  the  Roman  Catholics  was  $&Si,Sig,  and  during  the  four 
years  of  my  administration  they  received  ^i, 484.597. 

Why,  then,  were  the  Roman  Catholics  so  bitter  against  me  ? For 
several  reasons  : First,  because  I dismissed  incompetent  persons 

* See  opinions  of  the  press,  in  appendix. 


AND  INDIAN  EDUCATION. 


9 


from  the  Indian  school  service  tvho  were  Roman  Catholics.  They 
were  dismissed  not  because  they  were  Catholics,  as  was  falsely 
charged,  but  because  they  were  incompetent.  Second,  because  I 
stoutly  opposed  the  principle  of  giving  public  money  to  sectarian 
schools  (see  my  letter  to  Archbishop  Salpointe,  found  in  report  of  the 
Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  1892,  p.  161).  Third,  because  I in- 
sisted that  the  Roman  Catholics  should  not  oppose  the  government 
schools  (see  report  of  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  1S92,  pp.  150 
to  170,  and  pp.  I/O  to  175).  Fourth,  because  I pushed  the  govern- 
ment schools  to  the  front,  increasing  both  their  number  and  efficiency. 
Fifth,  and  largely,  because  I refused  absolutely  to  hold  any  offi- 
cial communication  whatever  with  the  insolent  and  infamous  Bureau 
of  Catholic  Indian  Missions  that  had  treated  me  so  outrageously 
(see  official  correspondence  with  Cardinal  Gibbons  and  others,  pub- 
lished in  the  Report  of  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  1891, 
pp.  161-170).  (See  appendix.) 

Having  failed  miserably  to  secure  my  removal,  defeat  my  confir- 
mation, or  to  overrule  my  administration,  they  turned  their  attention 
to  Congress  and  succeeded  by  disreputable  lobby  methods  (see  ap- 
pendix, article  from  Lutheran  Observer)  in  securing  special  appropria- 
tions for  Catholic  schools.  They  had  a strange  power  over  Congress, 
especially  over  the  Senate,  owing  partly  to  the  pernicious  law  of  “ Sen- 
atorial courtesy,”  partly  to  the  even  balance  of  power  in  that  body,  and 
largely  to  the  persistency  with  which  they  urged  their  cause.  There  is 
much  to  be  desired  in  the  constitution  of  legislative  bodies  in  America. 


A Relentless  Warfare. 

In  the  meantime,  the  most  relentless  warfare  was  kept  up  against 
the  policy  of  the  Indian  Office.  Before  I entered  upon  its  duties, 
there  had  been  established  at  Albuquerque  and  Santa  Fe,  New  Mex- 
ico, two  government  schools  that  had  been  secured  through  the  ef- 
forts of  the  Roman  Catholic  delegate  from  that  Territory,  which 
already  had  several  Roman  Catholic  schools  supported  out  of  public 
funds.  When  I took  charge  of  the  office,  I began  to  carry  out  the 
intention  of  the  government  in  completing,  filling  and  operating  these 
new  schools,  while  still  allowing  the  Roman  Catholic  schools  alluded 
to,  to  go  on  with  their  work. 

This  effort  of  the  office  to  execute  the  law  of  Congress  for  the  ed- 
ucation of  some  of  the  Pueblo  Indians  of  New  Mexico  in  govern- 
ment schools,  was  characterized  as  an  invasion  of  Catholic  territory 
and  an  unwarranted  effort  to  proselyte  Roman  Catholic  Indians.  I 
was  met  by  resistance  at  every  point.  (See  correspondence  w'ith 


lo 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS 


Archbishop  Salpointe.  Report  of  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs, 
1892,  pages  158-166.) 

A Silly  Charge. 

The  policy  of  limiting  the  extension  of  the  contract  system  was 
declared  to  be  a purpose  to  hinder  Roman  Catholic  mission  work 
among  the  Indians.  Stephan  says,  “The  policy  would  have  kept  us 
from  the  Navajoes  and  the  Moquis.  It  would  prevent  us  from  ad- 
vancing one  inch  further  with  our  work  of  civilizing  and  Christianiz- 
ing the  Indians  ” (secret  pamphlet,  p.  29).  This  is  a silly  charge  to 
make,  utterly  devoid  both  of  truth  and  of  reason.  Nothing  was  far- 
ther from  the  thought  of  the  Commissioner,  and  in  all  legitimate 
missionary  work  the  Catholics  had  the  help  of  the  Indian  Office. 
They  were  assisted  in  securing  land  and  material  for  erection  of 
churches  and  schools,  were  allowed  the  use  of  the  government  saw- 
mill in  the  production  of  lumber  for  the  erection  of  these  buildings, 
and  were  told  that  in  all  their  mission  work  they  would  receive  the 
same  treatment  that  was  accorded  to  other  religious  bodies  seeking 
the  uplifting  of  the  Indians.  The  way  for  legitimate  missionary  work 
among  Indians  was,  and  still  is,  as  wide  open  for  Roman  Catholics 
as  for  any  other  body  of  people  who  are  willing  to  propagate  their 
religious  creed,  not  at  public  expense,  but  at  their  own  charges,  and  to 
say  that  they  cannot  do  this  without  government  aid,  is  a pitiful  con- 
fession of  weakness. 

State  Prohibition  of  Sectarian  Appropriations. 

Stephan  says,  “ It  would  prevent  our  asking  a contract  for  St. 
George’s.  . . . Would  prevent  us  asking  for  aid  for  St.  Andrew’s.’’ 
Yes,  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  policy  would  prevent  their  receiving 
public  money  to  establish  any  more  Indian  schools.  In  many  of  the 
States  of  the  Union  there  are  constitutional  prohibitions  against 
appropriating  public  money  to  any  sectarian  institutions  or  uses 
whatsoever.  This  is  no  special  hardship  on  the  Roman  Catholics. 
It  applies  to  all  denominations  alike,  and  is  simply  a local  and  wise 
application  of  the  great  principle  of  the  separation  of  Church  and 
State.  The  policy  adopted  by  the  Indian  office  was  in  harmony  with 
this  great  fundamental  principle,  and  was  a simple  endeavor  to  apply 
it  to  the  Indian  school  service.  If  there  is  any  one  great  principle 
written  large  in  the  history  of  the  centuries  of  the  past,  it  is  that 
union  of  church  and  state  is  hurtful  alike  to  both.  A free  church  in 
a free  state  is  one  of  the  great  characteristics  of  the  civilization  of 
our  age,  and  one  of  the  distinctive  marks  of  the  American  Republic, 
which  has  entered  upon  a career  of  experiment,  and  of  advance  in 
human  government. 


AND  INDIAN  EDUCATION. 


II 


A New  and  Improved  Generation  of  Catholics. 

The  Catholics  do  not  sympathize  with  this  idea.  They  of  to-day 
are  probably  unable  to  appreciate  its  great  significance  as  an  element 
in  human  progress.  But  their  children,  reared  on  American  soil, 
trained  in  American  schools,  participating  in  American  liberty,  will 
approve  what  the  fathers  reject.  Already  multitudes  of  young 
Catholics  begin  to  see  the  wide  divergence  of  the  spirit  of  the 
hierarchy  from  the  genius  of  the  Republic,  and  are  preparing  for 
either  a schism  in  the  church,  or  a reformation  of  its  policy,  or  both. 
Dr.  McGlynn  is  not  alone  in  sowing  the  seeds  of  a coming  revolution. 
This  matter  under  discussion  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  coming 
generations  rather  than  to  ours.  Great  changes  do  not  occur  in  a 
day.  The  attack  on  Sumter  was  fifty  years  in  preparation.  The 
Spanish  Inquisition  was  centuries  old  when  it  was  born.  The  Revo- 
lution of  1776,  that  gave  us  our  liberties,  came  over  in  the  Mayflower 
in  1620.  Let  us  now  fight  the  battles  of  1950.  The  children  of 
those  who  hate  us  to-day  will  erect  monuments  to  our  memory 
to-morrow. 

A Revolution  i.n  Public  Sentiment. 

The  principle  for  which  I contend  has  made  great  progress  in  four 
years.  In  1889,  not  only  the  Catholics,  but  (as  I have  already  said) 
many  other  of  the  religious  bodies,  received  money  from  the  public 
treasury  for  the  carrying  on  of  Indian  education.  It  is  a most  sig- 
nificant fact  that  of  late  the  Presbyterians,  Congregationalists, 
Episcopalians,  and  Methodists  have  all  voted  to  refuse  to  accept 
government  aid  for  their  Indian  school  work.  (For  detailed  report 
of  the  official  action  of  these  bodies  see  Report  of  Commissioner  of 
Indian  Affairs,  1892,  p.  177.)  * 

• The  views  of  the  Baptists  on  this  question  of  separation  of  church  and  state  are 
well  known.  An  impressive  statement  was  made  in  a memorial  that  was  unanimous- 
ly adopted  by  the  .American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  at  its  anniversary,  held 
in  Philadelphia  in  .May,  1S91.  The  following  is  an  extract : — 

“ History  is  proof  that  the  meddling  of  ecclesiastics  with  civil  government  has 
embittered  political  dissensions,  has  added  religious  fanaticism  to  partisan  rancor, 
has  divided  societies,  has  engendered  civil  and  international  wars,  has  made  princes 
the  tools  of  prelates,  and  has  engendered  the  very  existence  of  the  state.  We  urge 
our  plea  in  the  name  of  religion.  History  is  proof  that  the  state  is  no  fitting  instru- 
ment for  the  propagation  of  religion.  The  true  weapons  of  religion  are  spiritual,  not 
carnal ; truth,  not  the  sword  ; persuasion,  not  force.  The  hand  of  the  state  on  reli- 
gion has  induced  hypocrisv,  formality,  a church  palsied  and  corrupt.  The  clamor  by 
the  church  for  a share  in  tVie  public  purse  has  diverted  in  many  wrong  directions  the 
very  energy  which  the  church  has  needed  for  her  legitimate  spiritual  enterprise.  Our 
own  .American  experience  has  clearly  shown  that  religion  is  never  so  prosperous,  so 
aggressive  in  her  proper  fields,  so  filled  with  that  self-reliance  and  self-sacrifice,  which 
is  the  very  genius  of  her  true  life,  as  when,  freed  from  all  the  temptation  and  de- 
mands of  an  entangling  alliance  with  the  state,  under  the  protection  of  equal  and 
defended  liberty  for  all,  she  is  let  alone  to  work  out  her  own  career. 

“ Because  we  believe  that  the  state  will  best  secure  the  needed  influence  of  reli- 


Contract  Schools. 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS 


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Protestants  versus  Roman  Catholics. 

The  spectacle  is  thus  presented  of  the  great  Protestant  churches 
standing  side  by  side  in  the  advocacy  of  a great  principle,  and  the 

gion  in  the  character  of  its  citizens,  and  in  ethical  principles  embodied  in  legislation, 
when  the  state  leaves  religion  wholly  free,  we  memorialize  you  to  set  further  and 
sufficient  barriers  against  any  ecclesiastical  interference  with  the  affairs  of  state. 

“ Because  we  believe,  in  the  language  of  President  Washington,  addressed  to 
those  who  complained  of  the  omission  of  God  from  the  Constitution,  that  * religion 
is  a matter  which  belongs  to  the  churches  and  not  to  the  state,’  we  urge  you  to  set 
these  further  and  sufficient  barriers  against  any  attempted  propagation  of  religion  by 
the  state.” 


AND  INDIAN  EDUCATION. 


13 


earnest  endorsement  of  the  policy  of  the  Indian  office.  On  the  other 
hand,  stand  the  Roman  Catholics  almost  alone,  demanding  from  the 
public  treasury  millions  of  dollars  for  their  church  mission  work 
among  the  Indians. 

The  gravity  of  this  matter  does  not  at  all  consist  in  the  amount  of 
money  involved.  That,  although  large  in  the  aggregate,  is  relatively 
insignificant.  It  is  the  principle  at  stake  that  gives  great  signifi- 
cance to  the  controversy.  The  Roman  Catholics,  in  demanding  from 
the  United  States  Treasury  millions  of  dollars  to  enable  them  to 
establish  and  maintain  missions  among  the  Indians,  are  demanding 
what  they  have  no  right  to  ask,  and  what  the  government  has  no 
right  to  grant.  If  the  demand  be  granted  in  this  case,  there  is  abso- 
lutely no  limit  to  their  future  demands.  If  they  can  claim  as  their 
right  public  money  to  maintain  Indian  missions,  they  can  with  equal 
reason,  claim  public  money  for  Mexican  missions.  Indeed,  in  one  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  Indian  schools  in  New  Mexico  supported  by 
government,  a large  number  of  the  pupils  were  not  Indians  at  all, 
but  Mexicans  who  were  reported  to  the  government  as  Indians,  for 
whose  support  money  was  drawn.  (Official  report  on  file  in  Indian 
office.)  * 

The  Division  ok  the  Public  School  Fund. 

Besides  this,  if  it  is  right  and  expedient  to  divide  the  public  money 
of  the  government  for  Indian  education,  why  not  also  divide  the 
public  school  money  in  the  states,  and  support  Roman  Catholic 
parochial  schools  by  public  taxation  ? There  is  no  difference  in 
principle,  and  the  Roman  Catholics  were  swift  to  see  the  important 
bearing  of  this  controversy  about  public  money  for  Catholic  Indian 
schools,  on  the  far  larger  question  of  public  money  for  Roman  Cath- 
olic parochial  schools.  If  the  camel  can  get  his  nose  into  the  tent, 
he  will  enter  in  due  time.  The  .\merican  public  has  not  yet  appar- 
ently awakened  to  the  real  nature  of  the  struggle.  The  battle  I 
fought  was  a battle  for  the  integrity  of  the  American  public  school 

*The  Ckriitian  Advocate  of  New  York  prints  the  following  item  in  its  Washing- 
ton letter : — 

“ The  Commissioner  of  Indian  -Affairs  has  annulled  the  contract  between  his  de- 
partment and  the  Bernalillo  (N.  Mex.)  school,  in  charge  of  the  Catholic  Sisters  of 
Lorette.  Suspicion  was  roused  in  regard  to  the  school,  and  it  was  found  that  of  the 
seventy  pupils  reported  as  Indians,  and  supported  as  such  in  the  school  by  the  gov- 
ernment, there  were  but  twenty-eight  Indians,  including  half-breeds,  while  the  other 
forty-two  were  Mexicans  without  any  Indian  blood.  In  addition,  while  the  govern- 
ment inspector  was  making  investigations,  the  girls  were  prompted  in  their  answers 
by  the  sisters,  and  at  their  instigation  rave  evidence  in  regard  to  their  race  and 
places  of  residence  which  was  found  by  the  personal  investigations  of  the  inspector 
to  be  entirely  false.  The  government  examiner  also  says  that  in  the  oral  examina- 
tion which  he  conducted  in  arithmetic,  the  sister  in  charge  prompted  the  pupils  by 
holding  up  her  fingers,  counting  off  her  beads,  and  so  on.  It  is  impossible  that  the 
bishop  of  the  see  should  be  in  ignorance  of  this  dishonesty  and  inefficiency.” 


14 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS 


system,  and  to  surrender  my  position  would  have  been  treason  to  the 
cause  of  free  education. 

Roman  C.atholic  Opposition  to  Ocr  Public  Schools. 

The  Roman  Catholics  have  used  the  same  tactics  in  assailing  the 
government  Indian  schools  that  they  use  in  assaulting  the  public 
schools  of  the  country.  One  of  the  pamphlets  filed  with  the  Senate 
Committee  to  defeat  my  confirmation  — I hold  it  in  my  hand  — 
consisted  largely  in  bitter  assaults  upon  the  government  Indian 
schools.  These  schools  were  called  “pagan  schools. ” They  went 
further.  They  said  that  government  schools  were  immoral.  Stephan 
says  that  they  are  not  fit  places  for  the  Indian  fathers  to  send  their 
daughters.  When  one  of  our  agents  in  Montana  was  securing 
pupils  for  the  government  school  in  Pennsylvania,  the  children  were 
taken  out  of  the  wagon  by  the  advice  of  a Roman  Catholic  priest, 
and  the  parents  w'ere  told  that  if  they  went  to  that  school,  they 
would  surely  go  to  perdition.  This  influence  was  felt  all  through 
the  Indian  service,  and,  while  drawing  millions  of  dollars  for  their 
own  schools,  they  have  inculcated  in  the  minds  of  the  Indians  the 
erroneous  belief  that  the  government  is  their  enemy,  seeking  to 
destroy  their  faith,  to  ruin  their  daughters,  and  the  prospect  of 
success  for  their  sons.  (See  Report  of  Commissioner  of  Indian 
Affairs,  1892,  p.  170).  They  objected  to  the  use  of  the  Bible  in  the 
government  schools.  Dr.  O’Gorman,  of  the  Catholic  University  of 
Washington,  who  is  a fair-minded  man,  representing  the  American 
element  in  the  Roman  church  to-day,  said  to  me  that  he  saw  no 
reason  why  the  Roman  Catholic  schools  should  not  have  the  same 
course  of  study  that  was  in  use  in  the  government  schools.  Stephan 
says : “ Surely  if  Dr.  O’Gorman  knew  that  the  Protestant  Bible  and 
the  Protestant  Gospel  Hymns  are  found  in  every  government  school, 
he  would  not  adopt  the  government  course  of  study  throughout  the 
Catholic  Indian  schools  of  the  country.’’  (Stephan’s  Secret 
Pamphlet,  p.  31-2). 

They  claim  that  their  schools  are  superior  to  the  government 
schools ; whereas  in  all  essential  particulars,  in  equipment,  organiza- 
tion, discipline,  spirit  and  the  personnel  of  the  employes,  the  govern- 
ment schools  as  far  excel  the  Roman  Catholic  Indian  schools  as  the 
best  public  schools  excel  the  parochial  schools  (see  Report  of  Com- 
missioner of  Indian  Affairs,  1891,  p.  70-1).  (See  Appendix.) 

Hon.  Daniel  Dorchester,  Superintendent  of  Indian  Schools,  2ifter 
nearly  four  years’  continuous  labor  of  inspection  of  schools  of  all 
kinds,  made  a careful  judicial  statement  that  is  found  on  pages  127 
to  130  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Board  of  Indian  Commissioners, 
1892. 


AND  INDIAN  EDUCATION. 


IS 

Failure  of  Roman  C.atholic  Mission  Schools. 

The  Roman  Catholic  schools  are  mission  schools,  parochial  schools, 
church  schools,  whose  chief  and  almost  only  aim  is  to  make  con- 
verts to  Catholicism,  and  to  train  their  pupils  to  be  good  Catholics. 
The  basis  of  all  their  work  is  the  Roman  Catholic  Catechism.  Many 
of  the  teachers  know  little  of  American  life,  and  apparently  care 
less,  speaking  very  imperfect  English.  Many  others  are  ine.xperi- 
enced  nuns,  and  few,  if  any  of  them,  are  trained  teachers.  Catholic 
education  of  Indians  has  never  been  successful,  and  they  can  point 
to  no  leading  Indians  as  a result  of  their  efforts.  An  eminent  Ro- 
man Catholic  said  to  me  recently  that  there  never  had  been  an  Indian 
Roman  Catholic  priest.  The  subtle  influence  of  their  schools  has 
been  to  awaken  in  the  minds  of  the  Indians  suspicion  and  distrust, 
and  they  have  bred  disloyalty  and  incited  resistance  to  the  govern- 
ment. 

Superiority  of  Govern.ment  Schools. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  great  government  schools,  like  those  at 
Carlisle,  Lawrence,  Chilocco,  Genoa  and  Albuquerque,  are  industrial 
training  schools,  which  fit  their  pupils  for  the  duties,  responsibilities 
and  privileges  of  American  citizenship.  In  view  of  what  I have 
learned  in  the  last  four  years,  I do  not  think  it  extravagant  to  say 
that  the  government  school  at  Carlisle,  Pa.,  has  done  more  to  pro- 
mote the  true  civilization  of  the  Indians  than  all  the  Roman  Catholic 
Indian  schools  put  together.  These  schools  are  public  schools, 
maintained  by  government,  supervised  and  directed  by  government 
agents.  The  great  thought  that  underlies  them  is  to  take  the  savage 
of  the  forest  and  fit  him  for  American  citizenship.*  We  have  recently, 
by  the  allotment  of  lands,  conferred  citizenship  upon  thousands  of 
these  Indians.  It  is  said  that  the  election  in  North  Dakota  turned 
upon  the  Indian  vote,  and  it  is  not  impossible  that  the  next  Presiden- 
tial election  may  be  determined  by  the  Indian  vote  in  three  or  four 
Western  States.  The  work  of  these  schools  is  to  teach  these  Indians 
the  principles  of  law  and  government,  and  to  fit  them  to  bear  the 
responsibilities  of  citizenship,  so  that  if  they  are  to  decide,  or  help  to 
decide  these  great  questions  of  finance  and  labor  which  are  before  us 
to-day,  they  may  do  so  understandingly. 

My  effort  as  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs  was  to  purify,  elevate 
and  render  more  efficient  the  entire  Indian  service  — the  work  of  im- 
proving the  educational  system  was  only  one  part  of  it.  This  had, 
however,  the  attention  which  its  importance  demanded. 

* .See  course  of  study  for  Indian  Schools.  Report  of  Commissioner  of  Indian 
Affairs,  1890,  p.  CLVi. 


i6 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS 


Not  a Personal  Quarrel. 

Those  who  assailed  my  administration  were  actuated  partly  by  a 
spirit  of  personal  revenge,  largely  by  sectarian  prejudice,  but  also  by 
political  motives.  I have  very  high  Roman  Catholic  authority  for 
saying  that  the  assaults  upon  me  were  for  political  effect,  and  that 
religion  was  used  only  as  a pretence.  The  real  inward  history  of  this 
singular  contest  can  hardly  be  stated  in  a public  address.  It  is  not 
necessary  that  it  should  be.  The  great  American  public  are  not  con- 
cerned with  it  as  a personal  quarrel.  I certainly  have  neither  the 
right  nor  the  desire  to  obtrude  my  personality  upon  you  except  in  so 
far  as  it  is  absolutely  necessary,  in  order  to  set  in  clear  light  before 
you  the  contest  that  has  become  national  and  historical. 

A General  Assault. 

The  Roman  Catholic  newspapers  throughout  the  country  gener- 
ally took  up  the  charges  of  the  Catholic  Bureau  against  the  Indian 
office  and  the  policy  of  the  Commissioner,  charging  him  with  bigot- 
ry, injustice  and  cruelty;  and  their  readers,  no  doubt,  came  to  accept 
as  true  their  base  calumnies,  and  to  regard  him  as  a veritable  mon- 
ster, bent  upon  destroying  the  Indian  schools.  Spies  were  sent  to 
learn  what  guests  he  entertained,  and  interviewers  invaded  his  home 
to  detail  gossip  and  silly  stories  about  his  family  life.  This  assault 
ivas  aided  by  an  obscure  partisan  newspaper,  edited  by  a scandal- 
monger, professing  to  be  a gentleman,  who  had  once  held  important 
positions  of  public  trust.  Two  or  three  honorable  Catholic  new’s- 
papers  had  a just  word  to  say  for  the  Commissioner,  but  the  tide  of 
abuse  w'as  all  against  him,  and  the  prejudices  of  the  Catholics  were 
thoroughly  aroused  ; the  entire  priesthood  were  embittered,  and  were 
ready  for  anything  that  could  overthrow  him.  One  priest  published 
letters  charging  upon  him  the  responsibOity  for  the  Sioux  outbreak 
and  the  loss  of  life  that  ensued  ; * another  a letter  charging  him  with 
brutality,  and  with  plotting  to  create  an  insurrection  among  a certain 
tribe  of  Indians,  in  order  that  he  might  have  an  excuse  for  exter- 
minating them  so  as  to  give  their  land  to  the  white  people.!  An 

♦ See  Appendix. 

tMORE  OF  MORGAN’S  WORK. 

New  Whatcom,  Wash.,  July  5,  1892. 

Editor  of  the  Catholic  News:  — 

The  Lummi  Indians,  whom  I visit  every  six  weeks  or  so,  have  a large  day  school, 
averaging  more  than  eight  boys  and  girls,  and  taught  by  a capable  Catholic  teacher. 
An  inspector  visited  said  school  last  week,  and  said  that  in  July,  15  of  the  largest 
pupils  of  this  school  would  be  taken  away  and  sent  to  an  Oregon  Indian  industrial 
training  school,  which  is  far  from  being  in  the  odor  of  sanctity.  Morals  are  said  to 
be  very  low  in  that  school ; too  much  freedom  among  the  sexes  and  followed  by 
many  breaches  against  chastity.  Graduates  of  this  school  are  generally  proud, 
haughty  — polished  heathens.  The  Lummi  Indians,  being  all  good  practical  Catho- 


AND  INDIAN  EDUCATION. 


17 


archbishop  accused  him  of  lying.  (See  Report  of  Commissioner  of 
Indian  Affairs,  1892,  p.  159  and  161.)  A priest  published  a pamphlet 
attacking  his  theory  of  Indian  education,  and  a tool  of  the  Catholics 
wrote  articles  bitterly  assailing  the  character  of  the  government 
Indian  schools,  and  charging,  gross  incompetency  upon  the  Commis- 
sioner* Catholic  papers  reproduced  these  silly  charges  with  sensa- 
tional headlines.  Indians  were  incited,  if  not  forced  to  appeal  to  the 
courts  to  take  their  children  out  of  a government  school.  (Report  of 
Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  1892,  page  161-2.)  False  stories 
were  widely  circulated  that  the  Commissioner  was  taking  Catholic 
Indian  children  from  reservations  and  placing  them  in  government 
schools,  for  the  purpose  of  proselyting  them.  (See  Report  of  Com- 
missioner of  Indian  Affairs,  1892,  pages  167-170.)  Everything,  appar- 
ently, that  Jesuitical  cunning  could  suggest, was  done  to  create  a work- 
ing sentiment  against  the  Commissioner,  and  against  the  administra- 
tion that  sustained  him. 

The  Republican  Convention. 

When  the  Republican  convention  met  in  Minneapolis  in  June,  1892, 
to  nominate  a candidate  for  President,  the  Roman  Catholics 
attempted  to  defeat  the  renomination  of  Harrison  because  of  his 
Indian  policy.  One  Western  Senator  told  me  that  the  private 

lies,  are  not  willing  to  let  their  children  go  to  their  inevitable  perdition.  They  are 
threatened  with  force  to  take  their  children  away,  and  they  do  not  know  what  to  do. 
I think  the  government,  or  rather  Preacher  .Morgan,  wants  to  excite  these  peaceful 
and  industrious  Indians  to  resistance  in  order  to  have  a pretext  to  open  this  much- 
coveted  reservation  to  the  surrounding  greedy  whiles. 

I>ast  fall  a drunken  white  man  was  supposed  to  be  killed  by  an  Indian  from  his 
reservation.  The  Indian  was  tried,  but  could  not  be  convicted.  When  the  Indian 
was  allowed  his  freedom  the  whites  tried  to  kill  him,  and  he  had  to  leave  his  home 
to  save  his  life.  He  tried  to  come  home  lately,  but  he  was  again  hunted  by  the 
whites  and  had  again  to  flee  for  life.  In  the  meantime,  I understand  that  a numer- 
ously-signed petition  was  sent  to  the  Indian  authorities  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  to 
either  prevent  the  Indians  from  leaving  their  reservation,  or  to  drive  them  away 
from  it.  So  if  Morgan  can  manage  to  have  the  Indians  resist  this  brutal  order  of 
taking  away  the  children  by  force  from  their  parents,  it  will  be  a plausible  pretext  to 
either  exile  or  exterminate  these  good,  peaceable  Indians.  I cannot  see  how  any 
power  on  earth  can  have  a right  to  take  away  children  from  their  parents  when  they 
nave  a good  school  where  they  can  be  made  to  become  good  Christians  and  useful 
members  of  society.  But  I suppose  these  poor  Indians  have  no  rights  that  Morgan 
should  respect.  He  has  might  and  brute  force  on  his  side,  and  that  is  all  he  re- 
quires. 

Consequently  I do  not  see  how  consistent  Catholics  can  so  stultify  themselves  as 
to  cast  their  votes  to  continue  Morgan’s  brutal,  bigoted  rule  for  four  years  more.  If 
the  rascals  are  not  ignominiously  tunied  out  from  power  this  fall,  there  will  not  be 
an  Indian  child  left  in  a Catholic  school  four  years  hence. 

Then,  Mr.  Editor,  agitate  the  Indian  school  question  in  season  and  out  of  sea- 
son in  your  able  paper,  till  every  Catholic  is  obliged  for  very  shame  to  cast  out  the 
incubus  represented  by  Morgan  and  hisclique.  Write  one  of  your  forcible  editorials 
on  the  above  subject  and  urgently  request  all  Catholic  papers  to  spread  it  broadcast 
over  the  land  (before  the  November  elections). 

Yours,  most  respectfully.  Rev.  J.  B.  Boulet. 

• See  my  letter  to  Cardinal  Gibbons.  Appendix. 


iS 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS 


secretary  of  a Roman  Catholic  bishop  came  to  him  and  urged  him 
to  oppose  Harrison’s  renomination  for  that  reason.  A Senator  from 
another  Western  State,  where  it  was  known  the  vote  would  be  close, 
told  me  that  the  Catholics  urged  him  also  for  the  same  reason  to  op- 
pose Harrison’s  renomination.  All  their  efforts,  however,were  in  vain ; 
the  President  was  renominated.  Roman  Catholics  then  determined 
to  defeat  his  re-election,  and  they  entered  the  campaign  and  waged 
a relentless  warfare  against  him  to  the  end.  A prominent  Roman 
Catholic  paper  advised  all  Romanists  to  concentrate  their  efforts  to 
defeat  Harrison,  and  thus  overthrow  Morgan. 

A Secret  Pamphlet. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Bureau  published  a secret  pamphlet  of  32 
pages  — I hold  a copy  in  my  hand  - bitterly  assailing  the  Indian 
office  and  President  Harrison.  It  was  prepared  by  Stephan,  con- 
tained a restatement  of  the  charges  and  slanders  against  me,  and 
was  full  of  misrepresentation.*  It  was  widely  circulated  among 
the  Catholic  clergy,  and  was  well  calculated  to  stir  up  their  antago- 
nism. 

I suppose  it  is  true,  that  the  Roman  Catholic  clergy  in  America, 
as  a class,  are  far  inferior  in  culture  and  character  to  the  Protestant 
clergymen.  They  are  largely  foreigners,  have  little  sympathy  with 
our  American  institutions,  and  are  not  in  touch  at  all  with  the  best 
forces  operative  in  American  life.  They  are  blindly  obedient  to  the 
church,  know  absolutely  nothing  of  independence  of  thought  or 
action,  are  not  well  informed  in  American  history,  and  take  no  intelli- 
gent interest  in  American  politics. 

Roman  Catholics  in  Local  Politics. 

In  local  elections  they  can,  I suppose,  be  generally  counted  on  to 
throw  their  influence  in  favor  of  the  candidates  that  will  render  the 
greatest  service  to  their  church.  During  the  last  administration  it 
w'as  determined,  for  good  reasons,  to  remove  an  Indian  agent  who 
was  a Roman  Catholic.  The  Bishop  in  that  district  wrote  to  his 
Congressman  — who  came  to  me  with  the  letter  — and  demanded 
that  he  should  secure  the  appointment  of  another  Roman  Catholic 
as  Indian  agent,  and  threatened  that  if  this  were  not  done,  he  would 
oppose  his  re-election.  A Catholic  was  not  appointed,  and  the 
Congressman  was  defeated. 

Last  fall,  one  of  the  ablest,  most  upright  men  in  this  country,  an 

* Stephan’s  cowardly  attack  upon  my  military  record  was  as  base  as  it  was  calum- 
nious. I have  a military  record  of  which  any  man  might  be  proud.  There  is  not 
one  page  of  it  I would  blot  out. 


AND  INDIAN  EDUCATION. 


19 


ex-Senator,  who  was  running  for  governor  of  a Western  State,  told 
me  that  a Roman  Catholic  priest  said  to  him  : “ The  Roman  Catholics 
are  all  opposing  you  in  this  campaign  because  you  supported  the 
confirmation  of  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs.”  My  good 
friend  replied : “ When  that  question  was  up  I investigated  it  care- 
fully, satisfied  myself  that  he  ought  to  be  confirmed,  and  supported 
his  confirmation.  I have  no  apologies  to  mike.  I would  like  to  be 
governor  of  this  State ; I would  like  the  support  of  the  Romanists, 
but  if  I cannot  have  that  without  sacrificing  my  sense  of  public  duty, 
then  I prefer  defeat  to  election.”  He  was  defeated.  A distinguished 
clergyman  in  New  York  told  me  that  he  knew  personally  of  Irish 
Republicans  who  were  forced  by  their  priests  to  vote  for  Cleveland, 
although  they  preferred  to  vote  for  Harrison. 

A public  official  in  Western  New  York  told  me  that  a foreign 
priest  threatened  to  withhold  the  communion  from  his  members  if 
they  voted  for  Harrison.  A Western  Senator  told  me  that  a consid- 
erable number  of  voters  in -Milwaukee  trained  with  the  Republicans 
until  the  Sunday  before  election,  when  they  received  orders  from 
their  priest  to  vote  for  Cleveland,  and  they  reluctantly  obeyed. 

Rome  Co.mbines  to  Defeat  Harrison. 

The  evidence  is  well-nigh  conclusive  that  almost  the  whole  power 
of  the  Catholic  priesthood  was  concentrated  upon  the  defeat  of 
Harrison.  Stephan’s  political  pamphlet  charged  the  President  with 
bigotry  and  with  lending  the  weight  of  his  office  against  the  Catholics. 
The  charge  was  absurd,  but  it  did  its  wprk  as  effectively  as  if  it  had 
been  true.* 

I think  you  will  all  agree  w'ith  me,  whatever  your  politics  are,  that 
Benjamin  Harrison  is  a patriot  — of  along  line  of  patriots, — and 

• Bigotry  or  Patriotis.m  ? 

Let  us  see  in  what  the  bigotry  consists.  It  tells  of  an  interview  with  Presi- 
dent Harrison  in  which  the  President  said  he  wanted  the  Indian  children  educated 
in  government  schools.  Then  it  quotes  from  the  President's  .Message,  in  which  he 
says  the  schools  have  been  very  successful,  and  should  be  so  organized  and  conduct- 
ed as  to  facilitate  the  transfer  of  the  schools  to  the  States  and  Territories  in  which 
they  are  located.  That  is  the  bigotry. 

The  term  bigot,  in  these  days  of  free  thought  and  independent  investigation, 
is  an  epithet  of  opprobrium  and  disgrace.  Webster  says  in  his  International  Dic- 
tionary that  a bigot  is  “ a person  w ho  regards  his  own  faith  and  views  in  matters  of 
religion  as  unquestionably  right,  and  any  belief  or  opinion  opposed  to  or  differing 
from  them  as  unreasonable  or  wicked.  In  an  extended  sense,  a person  who  is  in- 
tolerant of  opinions  which  conflict  with  his  own,  as  in  politics  or  morals  ; one  obsti- 
nately and  blindly  devoted  to  his  own  church,  party  or  opinion.”  President  Harri- 
son was  a bigot  because  he  believed  that  the  public  schools  were  better  than  the 
parochUl  schools.  With  Webster’s  definition  of  bigotry,  and  this  teaching  of  the 


20 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS 


that  by  word  and  deed,  in  private  and  in  public,  as  citizen,  soldier, 
and  President,  he  has  fostered  a love  of  country,  ai}d  has  helped  to 
bring  about  what  he  himself  well  calls  “ a renaissance  of  patriotism.” 
He  loves  American  institutions  for  their  beneficent  influence  upon 
the  foreigners  that  come  to  make  their  homes  with  us.  His  loyalty 
is  to  the  flag  of  the  republic.  His  bigotry  is  of  that  noble  type  that 
sees  in  our  American  institutions  the  hope  of  humanity.  President 
Harrison  is  a broad-minded  statesman,  and  a Christian  of  liberal 
views.  To  accuse  him  of  bigotry  is  like  charging  George  Washington 
with  treason. 

Another  lying  circular  was  scattered  among  the  French  Catholics 
in  Connecticut  to  excite  religious  prejudices  against  President 
Harrison.  What  effect  these  and  similar  influences  had  on  the 
result  of  the  campaign,  it  is  impossible  for  any  one  to  tell. 

A great  many  elements,  which  I need  not  stop  to  enumerate,  en- 
tered into  the  campaign  and  complicated  the  struggle.  What  actually 
brought  about  the  defeat  of  the  Republican  party  is  still  an  open 
question  among  the  most  astute  politicians,  and  calls  for  no  discus- 
sion here. 

Priests  Plunging  Into  Partisan  Politics  for  Public  Plunder. 

The  point  I make  is  simply  this : That  the  Roman  Catho- 

lics attempted  to  overthrow  the  Republican  party,  not  in  the 
interest  of  good  government,  but  in  the  interest  of  their  church. 

Catechism,  it  is  a legitimate  conclusion  that  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  is  organized 
bigotry.  No  honest  Roman  Catholic  can  be  an>'thing  else  than  a bigot.  For  a 
Roman  Catholic  to  charge  a Protestant  with  bigotry  is  arrant  nonsense  and  imper- 
tinence. 

I hold  in  my  hand  a “ Catechism  of  Christian  Doctrine,  prepared  and  enjoined 
by  order  of  the  third  Plenary  Council  of  Baltimore,  and  indorsed  by  Cardinal  Gib- 
bons.” On  page  6 it  says  : — 

Ques.  — How  shall  we  know  the  things  which  we  are  to  believe  ? 

Ans.  — We  shall  know  the  things  which  we  are  to  believe  from  the  Catholic 
Church,  through  which  God  speaks  to  us. 

On  page  20  it  says : — 

Ques.  — What  is  the  church  ? 

Ans.  — The  church  is  the  congregation  of  those  who  profess  the  faith  of  Christ, 
partake  of  the  same  sacraments,  and  are  governed  by  their  la\\Tul  pastors  under  one 
visible  head. 

Ques.  — Who  is  the  visible  head  of  the  church  ? 

Ans.  — Our  holy  father  the  Pope,  the  bishop  of  Rome,  is  the  vicar  of  Christ  on 
earth  and  the  risible  head  of  the  church. 

Ques.  — What  do  you  mean  by  the  infallibility  of  the  church  ? 

Ans.  — By  the  infallibility  of  the  church  I mean  that  the  church  cannot  err  when 
it  teaches  a doctrine  of  faith  or  morals. 

Ques.  — Has  the  church  any  marks  by  which  it  may  be  known  ? _ 

Ans.  — The  church  has  four  marks  by  which  it  may  be  known  : It  is  one ; it  is 
holy ; it  is  Catholic  ; it  is  apostolic. 

Ques.  — In  which  church  are  these  attributes  and  marks  found? 

Ans.  — These  attributes  are  found  in  the  holy  Roman  Catholic  Church  alone. 


AND  INDIAN  EDUCATION. 


21 


They  claim  to  have  succeeded  in  their  effort,  boast  of  their  achieve- 
ment, and  will,  undoubtedly,  be  emboldened  to  undertake  still  more 
daring  plans.  (See  citations  from  Catholic  papers  given  in  Appendix. 
These  are  simply  samples.)  They  represent  themselves  as  a priest- 
hood, plunging  into  politics  for  public  plunder.  Whether  this  repre- 
sentation is  to  be  accepted  as  true  or  not,  we  do  well  to  ponder. 

A Betr.ayal  of  the  Republic. 

Now  if  it  be  true,  as  is  claimed  by  Roman  Catholic  newspapers, 
that  Roman  Catholics  who  were  Republicans  and  believed  that  the 
theory  of  the  Republican  party  regarding  our  great  national  indus- 
tries, and  regarding  other  public  questions,  were  correct,  and  that  the 
success  of  the  Republican  party  was  essential  to  the  continued 
prosperity  of  the  nation,  nevertheless,  in  opposition  to  their  convic- 
tions on  political  questions,  and  their  personal  preferences,  they  did, 
in  obedience  to  the  command  of  their  priests,  abandon  the 
Republican  party,  and  vote  for  the  Democratic  party  in  order  to 
defeat  flarrison,  get  rid  of  his  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  and 
overturn  his  Indian  policy  in  order  to  secure  for  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic Church,  under  Democratic  administration,  what  it  could  not  get 
under  Republican  vote,  then  is  it  not  true  that  they  deliberately 
betrayed  the  republic,  and  committed  a crime  against  liberty  ? Even 
if  it  should  be  true  that  the  claim  of  the  Roman  Catholics  as  to  the 
significance  of  their  vote  in  the  last  presidential  election  is  grossly 
exaggerated,  and  even  if  it  were  true  that  their  action  really  did  not 
have  any  appreciable  effect  in  determining  the  result  of  the  election, 
the  great  fact  remains,  that  they  attempted  the  overthrow  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  a policy  which  many  of  them  believed  to  be 
sound,  in  order  to  promote  the  interest  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church.  Whatever  may  be  true  as  to  the  effect  of  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic political  conspiracy,  here  are  matters  worthy  of  attention. 

SO.ME  SiGNIEICA.NT  AND  AD.MITTED  FaCTS. 

1.  There  were  very  grave  issues  at  stake  in  the  presidential  elec- 
tion, the  entire  industrial  and  fiscal  policy  of  the  government  being 
involved. 

2.  It  was  universally  recognized  that  the  contest  was  to  be  a very 
stubborn  one,  with  the  chances  rather  in  favor  of  the  continuance 
of  the  Republican  party  in  power. 

3.  The  Roman  Catholics  had  been  thoroughly  imbued  with  the 
false  idea  that  the  President  was  hostile  to  them  and  to  their  religion, 
and  should  be  overthrown. 

4.  The  priests,  apparently,  stood  ready  to  combine  to  use  their 


22 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS 


tyrannical  power  over  the  conscience  to  coerce  their  blind  followers 
to  vote  solidly  for  a change  of  administration,  if  they  could  thereby 
punish  Harrison,  and  get  rid  of  his  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs. 

5.  The  Chairman  of  the  Democratic  National  Committee  was  a 
Roman  Catholic,  and  was  quick  to  see  the  use  that  could  be  made  of 
this  engine  of  sectarian  prejudice  among  ignorant  masses  of  voters, 
who  could  be  misled  by  politicians  and  their  priests. 

6.  The  Chairman  of  the  Republican  National  Committee  was  also 
a Roman  Catholic. 

This  singular  coincidence  was,  of  course,  purely  accidental  and 
undesigned,  save  as  a part  of  the  general  plan  of  the  Roman  Cath- 
olics in  this  country  to  push  iheir  men  to  the  front  in  all  places  of 
influence.  If  this  particular  combination  had  been  planned  by  the 
College  of  the  Propaganda  at  Rome,  it  could  not  have  been  more 
acceptable  to  the  Vatican. 

Far  be  it  from  me,  even  by  implication,  to  impugn  the  party  fealty 
of  any  man.  I realize  the  very  delicate  position  of  the  Chairman 
of  the  Republican  National  Committee.  He  was  a true  son  of  the 
Church,  was  a recognized  leader  in  a Western  State  where  the  Cath- 
olics held  the  balance  of  power.  Prominent  ecclesiastics  were  his 
personal  and  political  friends,  and  he  had  special  reason  for  knowing 
their  antipathy  to  the  policy  of  the  Indian  Office.  He  was  an 
aspirant  for  further  political  honors  and  promotions,  and  knew  the 
indispensableness  of  their  good  will  and  help.  Whether  he  was  at 
all  influenced  by  these  considerations  I do  not  know. 

I note  here  some  seemingly  significant  incidents  of  the  campaign, 
while  others,  apparently  even  more  significant,  could  be  given.  I do 
not  attempt  to  interpret  them. 

I offered  to  furnish  a reply  to  Stephan’s  pamphlet,  but  it  was  not 
called  for.  A character  sketch  of  Harrison,  written  by  me,  and  in 
type  as  a campaign  document,  was  suppressed — as  I have  reason 
to  believe — because  I wTote  it. 

An  official  telegram,  sent  from  the  Indian  office  to  a Roman  Cath- 
olic Indian  agent  inquiring  about  a turbulent  Catholic  priest,  was 
answered  through  the  National  Republican  headquarters.  A 
Western  Senator  expressed  to  me  the  opinion  that  if  Stephan’s 
scurrilous  pamphlet  had  been  made  the  occasion  for  an  appeal  to  the 
American  sentiment  of  this  country,  there  would  have  been  a mag- 
nificent epoch-making  response.  It  was  not  done. 

7.  Harrison  was  defeated. 

8.  Roman  Catholic  newspapers  claimed  his  defeat  as  their  victory. 
Bells  were  rung  in  some  Catholic  churches  in  honor  of  the  event. 
According  to  the  Roman  Catholic  newspapers  the  conspiracy  had 


AND  INDIAN  EDUCATION.  23 

succeeded  ; the  8th  of  November  was  another  Saint  Bartholomew’s 
day.  Ballots  had  done  the  work  of  bullets. 

It  is  not  conceded  that  their  claim  is  correct.  The  misrepresenta- 
tions of  the  McKinley  bill  and  the  force  bill,  the  labor  troubles,  the 
populist  uprising,  the  Blaine  episode,  the  sickness  in  the  President’s 
family,  and  other  causes,  are  sufficient  to  explain  the  defeat  of 
Harrison.  The  generalship  of  Whitney  was  superb.  The  point  I 
make  is,  that  the  Catholics  combined  to  carry  the  presidential  elec- 
tion, and  claim  to  have  succeeded.  The  effort  and  the  claim  reveal 
the  danger  that  threatens  us.  The  spirit  of  political  revolution  for 
papal  advantage  is  manifest.  Politicians  stand  ready  to  pander  to 
this  spirit. 

9.  One  of  the  last  acts  of  the  next  Democratic  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, after  the  election,  was  to  pass  the  new  Indian  bill,  with  a 
clause  establishing  a new  Roman  Catholic  contract  Indian  school  at 
Umatilla,  Oregon,  for  Indians  who  are  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
where  a good  government  school  was  already  in  operation,  and  where 
no  other  school  was  needed. 

10.  In  the  reorganization  of  the  United  States  Senate,  made  pos- 
sible by  the  election,  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Indian 
Affairs  is  the  man  who  championed  the  Catholic  Bureau  in  all  its 
efforts,  and  led  the  fight  against  my  confirmation. 

11.  Hon.  R.  V.  Belt  — a soldier  of  honorable  record,  a man  of  integ- 
rity, ability,  and  of  wide  experience  in  office,  having  served  through 
one  Democratic  administration,  an  expert  in  Indian  matters, — is 
removed  from  the  office  of  .-Vssistant  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs, 
and  his  place  is  filled  by  a Roman  Catholic. 

12.  The  chief  of  the  Education  division  in  the  Indian  office  has 
been  removed,  and  a policy  injurious  to  the  Government  Indian 
schools  has  been  inaugurated. 

13.  One  of  the  first  Indian  agents  appointed  by  the  new  adminis- 
tration has,  it  is  said,  only  one  qualification  for  the  place  — he  is  a 
Roman  Catholic 

Wii.AT  Does  it  Mean  ? 

Now  what  is  the  real  meaning  of  all  this  ? Does  it  mean  that  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church — an  ecclesiastical  imperialism  modeled  after 
the  Roman  Empire  — organized  for  conquest,  and  with  an  insatiable 
greed  of  power,  arrogating  to  itself  the  divine  right  of  sovereignty 
over  temporal  government,  an  alien  transplanted  from  the  Tiber,  out 
of  sympathy  with  American  institutions,  and  hating  our  public  schools 
as  her  deadly  foes,  recruiting  her  ranks  by  myriads  from  the  slums 
of  Europe,  flushed  with  victory  in  local  politics,  finding  herself  hold- 
ing the  balance  of  power  between  the  two  great  political  parties  con- 


24 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS 


tending  for  national  supremacy,  recognizes  her  opportunity,  and  utter- 
ly ignoring  the  political  issues  of  the  campaign,  hurls  her  cohorts 
secretly  but  overwhelmingly  into  the  conflict,  in  those  strategic 
points,  the  cities,  where  she  has  massed  her  forces,  and  thus  realizes 
her  long-coveted  desire  of  dictating  her  own  terms  to  those  in  charge 
of  the  national  government  ? Do  you  say  that  this  is  incredible  ? 
Perhaps  so  ; but  read  the  political  history  of  New  York.  Tammany 
is  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  engaged  in  municipal  politics;  em- 
blem, a tiger  - satiated.  Does  it  bode  ill  to  the  republic  ? A Tam- 
many boss  is  the  modern  Duke  of  Alva. 

Fellow  citizens,  I will  not  pursue  the  topic  further.  I have  tried  to 
make  a plain  statement  of  some  facts  that  have  come  under  my 
observation,  and  I leave  you  to  draw  your  own  inferences.  I am  not 
a politician.  I left  an  important  position  in  civil  life  to  accept  the 
difficult  office  of  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs  at  the  personal 
request  of  my  friend  and  old  commander.  General  Harrison.  I 
served  nearly  four  years  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  winning  the  hearty 
approval  of  the  whole  country,  except  the  Roman  Catholics.  I left 
public  life  without  regrets,  and  have  no  desire  to  return  to  it. 

Our  Possible  Nation.\l  Destiny. 

I am  profoundly  interested,  however,  in  the  success  of  our  great 
experiment  of  “ a government  of  the  people,  for  the  people,  and  by 
the  people.”  This  young  Republic,  latest-born  of  nations,  is  rapidly- 
becoming  one  of  the  richest,  strongest,  most  enlightened  people  on 
the  globe.  Its  possible  greatness  dazzles  the  most  brilliant  imagina- 
tion. We  are  unfolding  a new  civilization,  and  the  welfare  of  man- 
kind is  wrapped  up  in  our  destiny.  We  have  borrowed  whatever  is 
good  from  all  nations,  — religion  from  the  Jews,  culture  from  the 
Greeks,  organization  and  law  from  the  Romans,  scholarship  from  the 
Germans,  hardihood  from  the  Scandinavians,  thrift  from  the  French, 
liberty  from  the  Dutch,  and  power  of  self-government  from  the 
Anglo-Saxons.  But  these  great  elements  of  a mighty  civilization  we 
have  blended  in  our  own  way.  Our  constitution  is  the  product  of 
American  statesmen.  Universal  suffrage  is  our  experiment.  Free 
schools  are  American.  Separation  of  church  and  state  is  our  con- 
tribution to  the  practical  statesmanship  that  is  improving  the  condi- 
tion of  mankind.  • I look  with  a patriot’s  dislike  upon  any  men  or 
body  of  men  that  directly  or  indirectly  seek  to  antagonize  our  Ameri- 
can institutions,  or  to  hinder  the  free  working  of  the  great  idea  of 
liberty  of  conscience,  and  the  unrestrained  exercise  of  the  freeman’s 
right  of  suffrage.  The  same  spirit  that  prompted  me  to  give  nearly 
four  years  to  the  service  of  my  country  as  a soldier,  four  years  as  a 


AND  INDIAN  EDUCATION. 


25 


public  officer,  more  than  twenty  years  as  a public  teacher,  training 
youth  for  citizenship,  prompts  me  now  to  resist  an  insidious  assault 
upon  the  very  citadel  of  Republican  institutions.  Our  liberties  are 
menaced.  Let  us  as  true  patriots  come  to  the  rescue.  *'  With  malice 
toward  none,  with  charity  for  all,  and  with  love  for  the  right  as  God 
gives  us  to  see  the  right,”  let  us  manfully  meet  the  crisis  that  is  upon 
us,  and  stand  for  God  and  our  republican  institutions.  We  have 
received  our  liberty,  through  our  fathers,  as  a sacred  trust  to  enjoy 
and  transmit,  unimpaired  to  the  next  generation. 

Ex-President  Hayes. 

The  late  ex- President  Hayes,  one  of  America’s  noblest  sons,  said 
to  me  at  Mohonk  in  October  last  that  if  Harrison  should  be  defeat- 
ed in  the  approaching  election,  an  unprecedented  tide  of  .-American- 
ism would  sweep  the  country.  Was  he  a prophet?  He  believed, 
apparently,  that  the  .-Americanism  born  amid  the  throes  of  revolution, 
and  consecrated  by  the  blood  of  the  patriots  of  ’61,  was  worth  pre- 
serving and  defending.  “ Eternal  vigilance  is  the  price  of  liberty.” 

AATiat  of  the  Future? 

At  times,  when  I see  how  engrossed  our  American  people  are  in 
the  pursuit  of  wealth ; how  apathetic,  apparently,  to  the  dangers 
that  threaten  us ; how  indifferent  often  our  own  best  citizens  are  to 
the  responsibilities  of  citizenship ; how  eagerly  the  base  and  the  in- 
competent clamor  for  office;  how  persistently  and  cunningly  the 
bosses  plan  and  plot  and  labor  to  seize  upon  power,  and  how 
tenaciously  they  cling  to  it ; how  venal  voters  often  are;  how  perni- 
cious and  far-reaching  is  the  corrupt  and  corrupting  spoils  system, 
and  with  what  consummate  and  resourceful  skill  this  great  enemy  of 
our  free  institutions  lays  her  plans  to  subjugate  and  rule,  I long  to 
hear  the  voice  of  a James  Otis,  a Samuel  Adams,  a Patrick  Henry, 
lifted  in  defense  of  those  liberties  our  fathers  died  to  gain.  But 
when  I remember  Concord  and  Bunker  Hill,  Washington  and  Jeffer- 
son, Gettysburg  and  .-Appomattox,  Sumner,  and  Lincoln,  and  Grant, 
I am  encouraged  to  believe  that  when  the  real  test  comes,  our 
young  men  — patriots  true  of  many  races — will  respond  to  the  call 
of  country,  and  with  peaceful  measures,  not  warlike,  with  ballots, 
not  bullets,  arguments,  not  armies,  will  preserve  and  hand  down  to 
posterity,  untarnished,  the  priceless  heritage  they  have  received  from 
the  fathers, — a republic  under  whose  starry  flag  there  shall  be  civil 
liberty,  religious  freedom,  suffrage  for  all,  universal  education,  sweet 
peace,  abounding  plenty,  and  continuous  progress  toward  the  highest 
national  greatness,  power,  and  influence. 


26 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS 


APPENDIX. 


The  Public  Estimate  of  General  Morgan's  Administra- 
tion of  the  Indian  Bureau  is  indicated  by  a few  extracts  from  the 
comments  of  leading  exponents  of  public  opinion. 


“ In  no  branch  of  the  public  service,  under  the  Harrison  adminis- 
tration, has  improvement  in  method  and  result  been  more  marked 
and  interesting  than  in  the  affairs  of  the  Indian  Bureau.  The 
particular  credit  that  attaches  to  the  Commissioner  that  has  just 
retired  from  service,  relates  mainly  to  the  zeal,  intelligence,  and  good 
judgment  he  has  displayed  in  the  execution  of  the  reform.” — New 
York  Tribune. 

“ The  Bureau  of  Indian  Affairs  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  and 
perplexing  offices  of  the  government.  It  has  the  oversight  of 
250,000  Indians,  it  disburses  annually  millions  of  dollars,  and  yet  in 
all  its  complex  work  the  department  has  a record  for  singular 
impartiality,  justice,  and  honesty.” — The  Mail  and  Express. 

“ One  of  the  brightest  chapters  in  the  Administration  has  been  its 
conduct  of  Indian  Affairs.  Mr.  Harrison  selected  for  Indian  Com- 
missioner, a thoroughly  qualified  expert  in  education,  and  General 
Morgan  has  systematized  the  management  of  the  Indian  schools,  so 
that  the  attendance  has  largely  increased,  and  the  efficiency  of  the 
system  more  than  doubled.  Meanwhile,  the  process  of  breaking  up 
the  reservations,  and  guiding  the  Indians  to  the  high  position  of 
citizens,  has  made  such  progress,  that  if  not  interfered  with,  their 
civilization  and  incorporation  with  the  nation  is  only  a matter  of  a 
few  years. — The  Indepe7ident. 

“ It  will  be  with  much  regret  that  the  friends  of  Indian  education 
learn  that  Gen.  Thomas  J.  Morgan  has  made  arrangements  to  go 
into  other  work  before  the  new  administration  comes  in.  He  has 
been  a wise,  judicious,  and  far-seeing  administrator  of  the  educational 
and  citizenship  policy  of  the  nation,  and  it  will  be  difficult  to  fill  his 
place.” — The  Sprin^eld  RepiiblicaJi. 

“ General  T.  J.  Morgan  has  resigned  his  position  as  Commissioner 
of  Indian  Affairs,  and  last  week  left  that  office  to  become  Secretary 
of  the  Baptist  Home  Missionary  Society  in  New  York.  In  accepting 
his  resignation.  President  Harrison  expressed  his  hearty  approval  of 
General  Morgan’s  work,  which,  we  believe,  has  done  more  to  secure 
the  advancement  of  the  Indians  toward  civilization,  and  to  bring 
them  to  citizenship,  than  has  been  done  under  any  other  administra- 
tion. He  has  been  persistently  attacked  by  the  Roman  Catholic 
Indian  Bureau  at  Washington,  and  by  the  Catholic  press,  but  he  has 
treated  that  sect  fairly,  and  has  so  far  perfected  a system  of  public 


AND  INDIAN  EDUCATION.  27 

education  for  Indians,  that  it  is  not  likely  that  the  policy  he 
inaugurated  will  be  reversed.” — The  Congregationalist. 

“ General  Morgan  has  made  for  himself  a permanent  and  most 
worthy  place  in  the  history  of  the  country,  in  connection  with  difficult 
and  important  duties  at  a very  critical  time.  The  fruit  of  his  clear 
vision  and  persistent  fidelity  will  be  increasingly  apparent  as  the  years 
go  by.  The  ablest  of  our  secular  journals  and  the  religious  press 
agree  in  saying  that  he  has  shown  himself  the  best  Commissioner  of 
Indian  Affairs  the  nation  has  ever  had.  He  comes  now  to  a still 
greater  work,  and  will  receive  everywhere  a very  hearty  welcome.” — 
The  Ensign. 

“ General  Thomas  J.  Morgan,  as  Indian  Commissioner  under 
President  Harrison,  had  precisely  that  ideal  fitness  for  his  post  that 
Judge  Lochren  possesses  for  the  headship  of  the  Pension  Bureau. 
It  was  a critical  time  in  the  history  of  our  dealings  with  the  Indians. 
General  Morgan  appreciated  it,  and  reached  the  highest  point  of 
valuable  service  ever  attained  by  a man  in  that  office.” — Review  of 
Reviews. 


COMMISSIONER  MORGANS  STAND. 

[Telegram  to  New  York  Evening  Post.] 

Washingto.n,  July  23,  1891. — Letters  are  pouring  in  upon  the 
Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs  from  educators,  and  philanthropists, 
and  public  men  in  all  parts  of  the  Union,  congratulating  him  upon 
the  stand  he  has  taken  with  regard  to  the  Bureau  of  Catholic  Missions. 

E.\-representative  Perkins,  of  Kansas,  who  was  chairman  of  the 
committee. on  Indian  Affairs  in  the  last  House,  and  who,  in  conversa- 
tion with  your  correspondent  and  others,  in  the  past,  has  been  often 
disposed  to  criticise  the  present  administration  of  the  Indian  Office 
for  what  he  considered  its  too  great  independence  of  partisan  control, 
writes  to  Gen.  Morgan  : “ The  appropriations  in  support  of  Indian 
education  have  annually  increased,  and  with  this  increase  in  the 
appropriations,  you  have  each  year  increased  the  amount  set  apart 
and  given  to  the  Catholic  schools,  and  have  thus  encouraged  and 
strengthened  them  in  their  e.xcellent  work.  Notwithstanding  this, 
you  have  been  the  subject  of  most  violent  and  unstinted  abuse, 
every  motive  being  impugned,  and  have  been  charged  with  almost 
every  crime  known  in  the  catalogue  of  crimes.  Vour  recent  stand 
in  opposition  to  the  Catholic  Bureau  in  this  city  is  not  only  person- 
ally right,  but  right  on  principle.  The  bureau  performs  no  useful 
purpose,  and  has  no  place  in  our  system  of  educational  work.  It 
must  have  been  organized  for  lobby  purposes,  and  its  paid  and 
retained  employees  have,  in  the  committee-rooms  of  Congress,  and 
elsewhere,  by  their  representations  and  importunities,  strengthened 
this  conclusion. 

“ Why  a bureau  of  this  character  should  be  maintained  I do  not 
comprehend.  It  necessarily  consumes  and  exhausts  a portion  of  the 
money  appropriated  for  the  support  of  the  schools,  and  thus  indirectly 
asks  Congress  to  appropriate  public  moneys  to  support  a sectarian 
bureau  at  the  nation’s  capital  to  solicit  appropriations  for  sectarian 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS 


Judge  Perkins’s  suggestion,  that  the  bureau  supports  itself  by  levy- 
ing tribute  on  the  fund  supposed  to  be_  devoted  entirely  to  the 
support  of  the  schools  themselves,  will  probably  be  borne  out  by 
ample  testimony,  if  the  next  Congress  has  courage  enough  to  probe 
this  scandal  to  the  botcom.  Facts  have  turned  up  within  the  last  few 
days  which  throw  a striking  light  on  the  business  the  bureau  has 
been  carrying  on  ; and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  if  the  present  arrange- 
ment is  continued,  by  which  the  Indian  Office  makes  its  contracts 
with  the  schools  themselves,  instead  of  through  the  bureau,  the 
increased  amount  of  money  which  actually  succeeds  in  getting  as  far 
as  the  schools,  will  make  the  school  managers  protest  against  even 
going  back  to  the  old  brokerage  system.  It  is  not  wonderful  that 
the  bureau  is  making  a hard  fight,  for  if  the  new  method  gets  a full 
foothold  the  bureau  will  be,  like  Senator  Ingalls,  “out  of  a job.” 

Bishop  Kain,  of  Wheeling,  is  one  of  the  irreconcilables.  He  is 
reported  to  be  out  in  print  with  a denunciation  of  Commissioner 
Morgan,  as  an  anti-Catholic  bigot,  and  threatens  the  Republican 
administration  with  the  withdrawal  of  Catholic  votes  in  1892.  The 
most  noteworthy  part  of  the  letter,  as  appears  from  the  abstract 
published  here,  is  its  charge,  that  Commissioner  Morgan  showed  his 
hatred  of  Catholicism  by  appointing  a Protestant  minister.  Dr. 
Dorchester,  to  be  an  inspector  of  the  Indian  schools,  and  that  the 
doctor’s  first  official  act  was  to  turn  out  a lot  of  Catholic  teachers 
because  of  their  religion.  If  he  had  taken  the  trouble  to  look  up 
his  facts  before  attempting  to  state  them,  the  bishop  would  have  dis- 
covered that  Dr.  Dorchester’s  appointment  as  Superintendent  of 
Indian  Schools  was  made  by  the  President  on  the  26th  of  April,  1889, 
before  Gen.  Morgan  had  even  been  spoken  to  about  the  commission- 
ership  of  Indian  Affairs.  Gen.  Morgan’s  own  appointment  as 
Commissioner  was  not  made  until  the  loth  of  June,  1889. 

As  a fact.  Commissioner  Morgan  approved  the  removal  of  less 
than  a dozen  Catholics  and  of  several  dozen  Protestants,  so  that  the 
Protestants  have  much  more  reason  to  complain  of  these  decapita- 
tions than  the  Roman  Catholics. 


ROMAN  CATHOLIC  LOBBIES. 

[Lutheran  Observer.] 

It  is  a singular  and  notable  fact,  that  the  Mormon  and  Roman 
Catholic  Churches  are  the  only  ones  that  have  ever  maintained 
lobbies  at  Washington  to  influence  legislation  in  Congress  favorable 
to  their  sectarian  interests.  For  many  years  the  Mormon  Church 
had  a powerful  lobby  at  the  National  Capital,  and  some  of  the  ablest 
lawyers  in  the  country  were  employed  by  them  to  advocate  their 
cause  before  committees  of  both  the  House  and  the  Senate,  to 
prevent  the  enactment  of  any  laws  that  would  interfere  with  the  free 
exercises  of  polygamy,  which  they  regarded  as  the  chief  corner-stone 
of  their  religion.  For  years  they  succeeded  in  delaying  or  defeating 
the  passage  of  such  laws  in  one  or  the  other  House  of  Congress, 
and  their  success  to  this  extent  was  a shameful  national  scandal. 

But  the  late  trouble  of  Indian  Commissioner  Morgan  with  the 


AND  INDIAN  EDUCATION. 


29 


“ Catholic  Bureau  ” at  AVashington,  in  regard  to  their  Indian  school, 
has  attracted  public  attention  to  tl^e  fact  that  the  so-called  “ Catholic 
Bureau  ” there,  is  nothing  else  than  a Catholic  lobby  maintained  foi 
a purpose  similar  to  that  of  the  Mormon  lobby.  Although  General 
Morgan  has  made  known  his  determination  to  deal  hereafter,  not 
with  the  Catholic  Bureau,  but  directly  with  the  superintendents  of 
the  Catholic  Indian  schools,  just  as  he  does  with  the  Indian  schools 
of  other  denominations,  yet  Archbishop  Ireland  has  announced  that 
the  Catholic  Bureau  will  “ retain  its  organization,”  and  remain  at 
Washington,  “ to  watch  legislation,  and  to  act  as  attorney  for  the 
Indian  schools  before  Congress.” 

Archbishop  Ireland  is  probably  the  most  liberal  and  advanced 
Catholic  prelate  in  this  country.  He  has  often  uttered  sentiments 
and  views  that  are  thoroughly  American  and  patriotic ; and  yet,  he 
desires  to  have  a Catholic  lobby  at  Washington;  as  he  says,  “ to 
watch  legislation,  and  to  act  as  attorney  for  the  Indian  schools  before 
Congress.”  This  places  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  in  the  same 
attitude  before  the  government  and  country,  as  that  in  which  the 
Mormon  Church  has  been  for  years ; and  it  is  a significant  fact,  that 
well  deserves  the  serious  consideration  of  all  patriotic  Americans. 

President  Harrison  is  a Presbyterian ; but  if  the  Presbyterian 
Church  were  to  appoint  a so-called  “Bureau”  at  Washington,  to 
lobby  before  Congress  to  secure  or  prevent  some  special  legislation, 
it  would  be  denounced  as  contravening  its  appropriate  sphere,  and 
as  violating,  in  spirit  at  least,  the  fundamental  American  idea  of  an 
entire  separation  of  Church  and  State.  The  same  would  be  the  case 
if  the  Methodist,  Lutheran,  or  Baptist  Church  were  to  maintain  a 
similar  bureau  or  lobby  at  Washington,  for  a similar  purpose.  They 
would  be  justly  denounced  for  attempting  to  intrude  sectarian 
interests  into  politics,  contrary  to  the  genius  of  American  institutions 
and  government. 

It  is  no  less  reprehensible  for  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  to 
maintain  a bureau  or  lobby  at  Washington  to  influence  national 
legislation,  than  it  would  be  for  any  Protestant  Church  to  do  the 
same. 

In  view  of  this  sectarian  intrusion  of  the  Catholic  Church  into 
Congress,  it  seems  evident  that  the  time  has  come  for  changing  our 
national  policy  in  respect  to  Indian  schools.  Instead  of  appropriat- 
ing to  the  Catholic  and  Protestant  churches  pro  rata  amounts 
according  to  the  number  of  schools  and  pupils  among  the  Indians 
which  they  respectively  conduct  and  support,  all  Indian  schools 
supported  wholly  or  in  part  by  the  Government,  should  be  placed  on 
the  same  unsectarian  basis  of  instruction,  and  then  let  all  religious 
denominations  that  have  missions  and  schools  among  the  Indians, 
support  and  conduct  their  own  schools  in  their  own  way.  This  is 
the  plan  proposed  by  the  National  Association  for  the  Preservation 
of  American  Institutions,  and,  if  carried  out,  it  would  relieve  the 
government  of  its  present  practice  of  supporting  sectarian  schools 
among  the  Indians,  through  the  denominations  that  have  charge  of 
them,  which  is  a departure  in  principle  and  in  practice  from  the 
American  idea  in  regard  to  schools. 


3° 


ROMAN  CATHOLICS 


[Press  Dispatch.] 

Baltimore,  Md.,  July  31,  1891. — Cardinal  Gibbons  said  last  night 
to  a reporter  : — 

“ Undue  importance,  I am  now  satisfied,  has  been  attached  to  the 
recent  controversy  between  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs, 
T.  J.  Morgan,  and  the  bureau  of  Catholic  Indian  Missions.  Mr. 
Morgan  has  thought  it  advisable  for  the  more  effective  expediting 
of  business  in  his  department,  to  have  contracts  for  schools  signed 
by  the  several  superintendents  of  such  schools,  rather  than  by  the 
directory  of  the  Catholic  bureau,  as  heretofore  practised.  I do  not 
see  how  this  change  can  in  any  manner  affect  the  real  interests  of 
the  Indians,  and  therefore  it  is  a point  which  should  not  disturb  us. 

“ At  my  request,  and  in  obedience  to  his  own  hearty  sympathy  for 
the  Indians,  the  archbishop  of  St.  Paul  yesterday  paid  a visit  to  Mr. 
Morgan.  The  commissioner  received  him  most  kindly,  and  gave  him 
ample  and  positive  assurances  of  his  disposition  to  treat  the  Catholic 
Indian  schools  with  equity  and  generosity. 

“Archbishop  Ireland  is  personally  satisfied  that  Mr.  Morgan’s 
assurances  will  be  carried  out,  and  is  delighted  with  the  result  of  his 
interview. 

“ I have  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  President  and  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Interior  are  benevolently  disposed  toward  the  Catholic 
schools.  Indeed,  on  this  point,  I speak  advisedly.” 


A PIOUS  FRAUD. 

[Boston  Traveller,  Jan.  31,  tSgs.] 

There  is  a Catholic  boarding-school  for  Indian  girls  at  Bernalillo, 
New  Mexico,  conducted  by  the  Sisters  of  Loretto.  It  is  known  as 
a contract  school;  that  is,  while  it  is  carried  on  by  the  nuns  as  a 
mission  school  to  train  young  Indian  girls  to  be  Catholics,  its  expenses 
are  paid  by  the  general  government  out  of  the  public  treasury.  The 
contract  made  by  the  government  with  the  Sisters  of  Loretto  is  for 
the  education  of  Indian  girls.  The  government  does  not  attempt  to 
educate  Mexicans. 

It  has  been  known  for  some  time  at  the  Indian  office  that  the 
reports  of  attendance  were  untrustworthy,  and  in  order  to  ascertain 
the  exact  facts,  a government  Indian  school  supervisor  was  sent  to 
inspect  the  school,  and  to  learn  the  true  character  of  the  attendance. 
This  officer  made  a visit  to  the  school,  and  saw  that  a considerable 
number  of  the  pupils  seemed  to  be  Mexicans.  He  questioned  the 
teachers,  and  they  insisted  that  they  were  Indians.  He  then  visited 
the  homes  of  the  parents,  and  made  careful  inquiry,  which  resulted 
in  establishing  the  fact,  that  out  of  a total  of  seventy  enrolled  as 
Indians,  forty-two  were  Mexicans,  with  no  trace  of  Indian  blood. 

In  order  to  cover  up  the  deception,  the  pupils  were  credited  to 
various  Indian  Tribes.  Five  were  enrolled  as  Apaches,  and  reported 
as  from  San  Carlos,  Arizona,  but  not  one  was  an  Apache,  or  had 
ever  seen  San  Carlos.  Others  were  reported  as  Navajos,  and  others 
as  Pueblo  Indians.  Some  pupils  that  lived  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  the  school  were  enrolled  as  living  in  distant  puebloes.  One  of 


AND  INDIAN  EDUCATION. 


31 


them,  when  questioned  in  the  presence  of  her  teachers  as  to  her 
residence,  would  not  answer  until  prompted  by  her  teacher  to  say 
San  Filepe,  and  then  insisted  that  that  was  her  home,  a statement 
that  both  she  and  her  teacher  knew  to  be  false. 

This  scheme,  it  seems,  has  been  carried  out  for  some  time,  and 
considerable  money  has  thus  been  obtained  from  the  public  treasury 
under  false  pretences.  The  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  on 
learning  the  fact,  promptly  annulled  the  contract. 

This  school  was  formerly  under  the  care  of  the  Bureau  of  Cath- 
olic Indian  Missions.  Fr.  Stephan,  the  director  of  that  machine,  in 
his  secret  circular,  complained  of  the  school  supervisors  as  spies, 
appointed  for  the  purpose  of  injuring  the  Catholic  schools.  It  seems 
he  had  good  reason  to  fear  the  presence  of  these  officers. 

The  Roman  Catholics  have  had  a great  deal  to  say  about  “ godless 
public  schools,”  and  about  the  need  of  “ religious  ” instruction,  such 
as  is  furnished  in  their  church  schools.  We  think  the  time  has  come 
for  the  government  of  the  United  States  to  stop  using  public  money 
to  pay  for  such  “ religious  ” teaching  as  this.  It  has  paid  out  in  this 
way  during  the  last  eight  years  more  than  two  and  a quarter  million 
dollars. 


ROMAN  CATHOLIC  NEWSPAPERS  ON  THE  PRESIDEN- 
TIAL ELECTION. 

The  Catholic  Herald  said  Oct.  6th,  1892 : “ Bigotry  must  be 

rebuked.  When  a national  administration  deliberately  sets  to  work 
to  destroy  Catholic  Indian  schools,  that  administration  must  reckon 
with  the  Catholic  discontent  which  necessarily  follows  such  a policy.” 

The  Catholic  Revie-w,  published  in  New  York  City,  one  of  their 
most  conservative  journals,  and  claiming  to  be  absolutely  “ non- 
partisan,” said,  editorially,  on  June  nth  : “ In  self-defense  Catholics 
must  become  independent,  and  vote  for  those  only  who  will  not  deny 
them  their  rights  as  citizens  because  of  their  religion.  The  rights  of 
conscience  are  more  important  than  protection  or  free  trade.” 

The  same  journal,  after  the  election,  said  editorially,  Nov.  26th, 
1892  : “Catholics  do  not  like  to  draw  religious  lines  in  politics,  but 
when  an  official  like  Hon.  Thomas  J.  .Morgan  declares  war  on  them, 
they  must  defend  themselves  ; and  that  their  votes  count,  the  result 
of  the  election  proves.  Good-by,  Morgan.’ 


[N.  Y.  Independent,  Nov.  24,  1S92.] 

Sever.al  of  our  Roman  Catholic  papers  are  singing  Te  Deums 
over  the  victory  of  Mr.  Cleveland.  They  call  it  the  deathblow  of 
Know-nothingism  and  bigotry.  The  Catholic  Herald,  of  this  city,  a 
little  more  virulent  than  most  of  its  contemporaries,  says:  — 

“ The  Republican  Party,  led  by  bigots,  invaded  the  sanctuary  of 
the  home,  usurped  parental  rights,  and  robbed  Catholic  Indians  of 
their  only  treasure,  their  faith ; but  the  people,  true  to  the  best 
traditions  of  .America,  hurled  it  from  power.  Cleveland’s  victory 
was,  in  truth,  the  defeat  of  bigotri-.” 


32 


INDIAN  EDUCATION. 


One  of  the  chief  glories  of  the  Harrison  Administration  is  its 
noble  Indian  policy,  as  conceived  and  carried  out  by  General  Morgan, 
who  has  dealt  with  Catholic  Indian  schools  with  friendly  impartiality. 
The  American  people  know  full  well  that  bigotry  is  not  the  special 
vice  of  Protestantism.  Before  many  years  have  passed  they  will 
understand  how  and  why  it  is  introduced  into  politics. 


[Copy  ] 

Indian  Office,  Washington,  / 
August  26,  1892.  ( 

J.  Cardin.AL  Gibbons,  Cardinal's  Residence,  Baltimore,  Maryland. 

My  De.ar  Sir:  — I beg  to  ask  your  attention  to  the  enclosed 
newspaper  clipping,  which  came  to  me  to-day  from  Alabama.  A 
similar  one  was  received  from  Minnesota.  The  article,  which  bears 
plainly  the  marks  of  emanating  from  the  same  source  which  has 
been  so  prolific  in  such  matters  heretofore,  appears  to  have  been 
printed  in  a Catholic  paper  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  scattered  broad- 
cast over  the  country.  From  what  you  have  already  said  to  me,  I 
know  that  you  do  not  approve  of  such  newspaper  assaults  upon 
personal  character. 

I hardly  need  to  say  to  you  that  the  article  is  in  substance  false 
and  slanderous  ; but  is  calculated,  I believe,  not  to  harm  me,  but 
those  in  whose  name  it  is  issued.  I do  not  object  to  fair  criticism, 
but  this  style  of  warfare  is  heathenish,  and  I am  sure  is  not  counte- 
nanced by  high-minded  Catholics,  like  yourself. 

With  assurances  of  my  personal  respect,  believe  me. 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

T.  J.  Morgan,  Commissioner. 


Issued  by  The  America.^  Citizen  Lo.,  ^ Bromfied  Street,  Boston. 


